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Britain will be battered by a fresh wave of "exceptional weather", with gale-force winds and driving rain creating a risk of widespread flooding, the environment secretary has warned.

Owen Paterson said after a meeting of the government's Cobra committee on Thursday that emergency agencies and power companies were on high alert for further storms.

Meanwhile the Environment Agency said it was preparing to issue severe weather warnings – meaning there is a threat to life and property – for coastal areas at risk of flooding.

Large swaths of the British coastline, stretching from the Isles of Scilly to Wales and Scotland, are at risk of severe flooding, forecasters warned, as a further storm front sweeps in from the Atlantic on Friday and again on Sunday.

The Environment Agency said the flood risk will extend along the UK coastline from north-west England, through Wales and south-west and southern England. Areas particularly at risk include the Isles of Scilly, the north and south coasts of Devon and Cornwall, Dorset and the coastline of Wales.

Severe flood warnings were issued for the coast of Cornwall and Devon on Thursday afternoon, with 65mph winds stirring up waves up to nine metres high in some places.

Flood warnings are also in place in the Midlands, north-west, Scotland and Northern Ireland as well as 229 less-serious flood alerts covering most of the UK.

The bigger concern for emergency services are gale-force winds, forecast at up to 60mph (100km/h) in western and southern England on Friday and even reaching 50mph inland, including London.

The weather warnings come after two people died after being swept out to sea by powerful waves off the south coast on New Year's Eve.

The search for a 27-year-old man swept out to sea on New Year's Eve was called off after a body was found on Thursday morning. The man, from Surrey, was swept out to sea by a powerful wave at 1am on Wednesday while celebrating the new year on the beach with his friends.

A woman died in the surf in Croyde, north Devon on New Year's Eve, after going swimming in the sea while on holiday with her family.

A man was pulled from the sea early on Saturday after ignoring warnings about the fierce storms battering Britain.

The man had to be rescued after going for a swim around 3am at Newquay, north Cornwall. He was dragged from the water and taken to hospital.

Police sergeant Reggie Butler said: “Another minute or 30 seconds and he would have been washed out to sea and the situation could have been tragic. We were not going to go into the water unless an opportunity presented itself and it was safe to do so. Fortunately for the male it did present itself.”

UK weather: flood warnings as further heavy rain expected to lash BritainMet Office issues warning of severe weather for the south west and the Environment Agency issues more than 100 flood alerts and 10 more serious flood warnings

UK weather: Tornado ‘lifts cats into air’ as storms and rain sweep across country, bringing further risk of flooding

“We've got four feral cats in the yard and they were being lifted off the ground, they just went round like a big paper bag.” Ms Blay added that none of the people or animals involved were injured during the storm.

Actually it's not been as bad here today as forecasted. Most of the rain was yesterday - but a nippy wind today. Kath got me a cheapo radio controlled weather station from Aldi for Crimbo, made by Ascot. Does internal and external temp and humidity, atmospheric pressure and trend, and phases of the moon plus a very rough and ready weather "forecast". Radio controlled clock from Frankfurt but gives UK time exactly. No PC interface for under £20 - or under 100 from what I can see. Think the offer from Aldi is now closed.

It's brilliant but Kath now fed up as I'm telling her the details all the time.

Actually it's not been as bad here today as forecasted. Most of the rain was yesterday - but a nippy wind today. Kath got me a cheapo radio controlled weather station from Aldi for Crimbo, made by Ascot. Does internal and external temp and humidity, atmospheric pressure and trend, and phases of the moon plus a very rough and ready weather "forecast". Radio controlled clock from Frankfurt but gives UK time exactly. No PC interface for under £20 - or under 100 from what I can see. Think the offer from Aldi is now closed.

It's brilliant but Kath now fed up as I'm telling her the details all the time.

Tony

I bought one of those in Aldi about 4 years ago. It is still working and it has usually been surprisingly accurate!It is currently forecasting some snow for tonight, but I think (hope) that might not occur.The only problem I have had with the unit is the outdoor sensor now chews up AA batteries. They used to last 12 months but now only manage about 3½ weeks.

The barometric pressure sensor, temp & humidity have always been very accurate.

UK weather: Lives at risk as more floods hit Britain, Environment Agency warnsThe Environment Agency has issued nine of the most serious 'danger to life' warnings and more than 200 flood alerts as rain and gales are set to batter Britain

Torrential rain followed by heavy snow! Not settled down with us but the peaks look a bit like Sochi. Hubbie just returned from shops seen a car with 4 inches on top. Occupants reckon they have 8 inches where they come from? Just when we thought of a trip out maybe stop in and watch somebody elses snow on the Winter Olympics!!

Like you TonyKath we feel very lucky as we live halfway up a hill, however while driving to my daughters yesterday who lives just 5 miles away couldent get over the flooded fields and the roads in several small hamlets completely covered in water and impassable, heartbreaking!

UK floods: 'Money is no object' to end misery, says David CameronDavid Cameron announces national emergency and promises to spend whatever is necessary as flooding worsens across southern England

David Cameron said on Tuesday that “money is no object” as he declared the floods were a national emergency and staked his personal authority on rebuilding damaged regions and making them more resilient to extreme weather.

Mr Cameron spoke as:

-- Scientists warned that it may take until May for the flood waters to subside;

-- The number of people evacuated from their homes rose to 1,000;

-- Oxford University confirmed that the country was enduring its wettest winter for 250 years;

-- Snow caused travel problems in the Midlands;

-- Network Rail said it could take months before train timetables, badly hit by flooding in the South, are back to normal.

There is no “blank cheque” for the flood relief effort, Patrick McLoughlin has said, appearing to contradict claims by the Prime Minister that money is “no object” as Britain continues to battle extreme weather.

The Transport Secretary said that the Government would “use every resource” but refused to say that new money will be made available.

His comments come just hours after David Cameron insisted that “whatever money is needed [for flood relief] will be spent”.